Separable electric fitting



Dec. 15; 1931. A NERO 1,837,058

SEPARABLE ELECTRIC FITTING Filed May 7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwautoz ARV/0H NERO his elf 0W0 Dec. 15, 1931. NERO 1,837,058

SEPARABLE ELECTRIC FITTING Filed May 7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIIIIIIII/IIl/IMVIIIIIIIIIIIIII/l/I Swvemtoz A R V D H. 'NER 0 3513' his fitter/near Patented Dec. '15. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT or-Flea ABVID E. NERO, WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- KEN'I'S, TO THE ARROW-HART & HEGEMAN ELECTRIC CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD,

SEPABABLE ELECTRIC FITTING Application filed Kay 7,

- My invention relates to a separable electric fitting. Among the objects of my invention are (1) toprovide a separable fitting with improved means for locking the plug member of the fittin to the race tacle member; (2) to provi e an improve suspension for installations in which the separable fitting is pendant; (3) to improve various features of construction hereinafter more particularly described or shown in the accompanyin drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a pendant separable fittin to which my invention is ap lied in one form;

ig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of portions of the fitting detached;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the chain-engaging yoke link; p

1g. 5 is a vertical sectlon on the line 55, Fi 2' ig. 6 is a section on the line 66, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the latch plate and anchor carried by the plug member of the fitting;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 8-8 and 9-9, Fig. 5, respectively; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the latch bolt carried by the receptacle member.

While certain features of my invention are applicable to fittings of various types, I have chosen for illustration a pendant separable fitting comprising a plug member adapted to receive and support an electric lamp, and a cooperating receptacle 16 provided with line connections and contacts with which the jacks of plug 15 engagea type of fitting appropriate for household, ofiice and sho use.

The plug member 15 comprises an insulat-' ing base 17 which carries the usual screw shell 18 and center contact 19 of a lamp socket. The base 20 of the center contact 19 is connected by screw 21 with the base 22 of a jack 23, which projects from the opposite end of the body. A second iack'blade 24 is connected by screw 25 to a yoke 26 which over-' 1926. Serial No. 107,400.

is encased in a metallic shell 27 one end of whichis offset to form a flange 28 which overlies the shoulder 29 formed at the jack end of the body. Adjacent its opposite end, the shell 27 is offset at 30 to hold the body 17 within. the shell, and is then outwardly flared at 31 into engagement with the neck 32 of the holder 33 which carries the shade or globe 34. The particular form of metal cas-' ing is immaterial, and in some constructions is entirely omitte Intermediate the jack blades 23, 24, and projecting in the same direction from the base 17, is a latch plate 35, the shank of which is accommodated in a passage 36 openin to a well 37 beneath the center contact 19. The aperture 38 formed at the inner end of the latch plate is engaged by a transverse anchor plate 39 which lies against the bottom of the well 37. y A fiber washer 40 interposed between the center contact 19 and the inner end of the latch plate, insulates these parts from each other and also holds the latch plate in definite position b y reason of the pressure of the center contact thereagainst. At its outer end the latch plate is provided with an aperture 41 and a beveled end face 42, for cooperation with the spring bolt 43 carried by the receptacle 16.

The receptacle 16 comprises a pair of insulating buttons 44 and, 45, united by a pair of screw bolts 46 and 47 passing through the button and-taking into nuts 48 and 49 accommodated in recesses in the outer face of the button 44. .Mounted in recesses on the inner face of the latter are receptacle contacts 50 and 51 having associated wire terminals 52 accessible from the wiring chamber 53 to which the cable 54 enters. The free ends of the contacts 50and 51 are housed within channels 55 and 56 formed in the button 45, and into which the jack blades 23 '.accommodated in a.- guide slot 57 formed in the inner face of the button 45. Intersect- 1ng the slots 57 is-a passageway 58, adapted to receive the latch plate carried by the plug 15; The slide bolt 43 is shouldered at 59 to cooperate with the shoulder 60 in the slot 57 to limit the travel of the bolt in one direction. A coil spring 61 accommodated in the recess 62 surrounds a lug 63 at the inner end of the bolt and stresses the latter in the direction to hold its shoulder 59 against the shoulder 60 on the button 45. Intermediate its ends the bolt is recessed to afford a bay 64 into which projects the beveled latch 65, and the position of the bolt within the button is normally such that the beveled latch nose 65 is located at the transverse passageway 58 when the shoulder 59 rests against the shoulder 60 of the button. Consequently when the plug jacks 23 and 24 are inserted into the channels 55 and 56 to engage the contacts and 51, the latch plate 35 enters the passageway 58 and its beveled end 42, engaging the beveled latch nose 65, displaces the bolt against the action of the spring 61 until the end of the nose 65 registers with the hole 41 in the latch plate. Thereupon the spring 61 forces the bolt outward and the nose 65 enters the slot 41 of the latch plate and engages the latter, thus locking the plug and receptacle members together. In order to free the latch to permit the plug to be withdrawn from the receptacle, the bolt 43 is forced inward by pressure of the finger upon the offset end 66 which projects beyond the side of the receptacle.

The lock automatically operates when the plug jacks are shoved by rectilinear movement into the contact channels of the receptacle. Both the bolt 43 and the latch plate 35 are insulated from current-carrying elements and there is consequently no danger of either short circuit, or of shock to -the operator. An insulating sheet 67 of fiber or the like overlies the bolt and insulates it from the wiring chamber of button 44.

It is desirable to relieve the wire terminals of the pendant receptacle 16 from strain. For this purpose I provide a cable grip comprising a ring 68 adapted to be slipped over the end of the button 44, and to rest against the annular shoulder 69 formed thereon. Extending from opposite sides of the outwardly offset flange 70 of the ring 68 are arms 71 and 72, the free ends of which are shaped to form gripping jaws 73 and lugs 74 to receive clamping screws 75. Preferably, recesses 76 are formed in the button 44 to receive the arms 71 and 72, and thus prevent thia swiveling of the cable grip on the button. It will be noted that the ring 68 of the cable grip clears the operating projection 66 of bolt 43, which prevents the escape of the cable grip 68 from the receptacle member of the fitting.

While the cable grip of Fig. 2 relieves the wire terminals from strain, the weight of the fitting is thus placed upon the cable itself. In some installations a suspension chain 77 is provided. In order to support the fitting from the chain, and thus relieve the wire terminals from strain, I provide a yoke link 78, the ends 79 and 80 of which are pierced at 81 to.accommodate the clamp screws 75 of the cable grip. To suspend the fitting from the chain 77 it is necessary merely to pass one leg of the yoke through the terminal link of the chain and engage the ends 79 and 80 between the jaws 73 of the cable grip, the screws 75 now passing through the holes 81 of the yoke ends. Preferably the yoke 78 forms a portion of the complete fitting as marketed, and is discarded if a suspension chain 77 is not available for use. The yoke 78 is an inexpensive piece, struck from sheet metal and does not add appreciably to the cost of the fitting.

It will be observed that both the bolt 35 and the latch 43 are struck from sheet metal and that the contacts are of the standard sheet metal type, thus affording a structure which is economical to manufacture. The recessing of the insulating bodies to receive the bolt' and latch, is also readily accomplished without adding to the expense of manufacture of these parts. A thorough insulation of the latching elements from the conductors is a feature of decided merit. Their concealment Within the insulating bodies, without enlargement of the latter, maintains standard dimensions, while the exposed operating end 66 of the bolt is no more conspicuous than the push button of a standard type of i switch. A workmanlike, reliable and eflicient construction is thus afforded by which the separable parts are automatically locked against unintentional separation. Strain relief for the wire terminals is afforded in a simple and efficient manner whether the suspension be from the wire cable or from a pendant chain.

Various modifications of construction which accomplish there results will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from what I claim as my invention.

I claim 1. The combination of a receptacle member having spaced contact chambers and an intermediate way, a bolt between said chambers and crosslng said way, said bolt being slidable transversely of the axis of said member in combination with a plug member having a pair of spaced jacks and an intermediate latch plate adapted to enter said way and engage said bolt to lock said members together.

2. A plug member having a pair of jacks and an intermediate latch plate extending in the same direction and apertured transversely to the plane of the body of the latch plate to receive the engaging portion of a cooperating locking bolt.

iii

3. A plug member having a pair of jacks and an intermediate latch plate extending in the same direction and apertured to receive the engaging portion of a cooperating locking bolt, the end of said latch plate being beveled for the purpose specified.

4:. A receptacle having a pair of contacts and a transversely slidable bolt intermediate said contacts, and projecting at one end beyond the side of the receptacle for manual operation, together with a spring within said receptacle urging the bolt in one direction.

5. A receptacle havinga pair of contacts and a transversely slidable bolt intermediate said contacts, and projecting at one end beyond the side of the receptacle for manual operation, a spring within said receptacle urging the bolt in one direction, together with means for limiting the displacement of the bolt under the stress of said spring.

6. A receptacle comprising a pair of insulating buttons constituting the body of the receptacle, said buttons being recessed on their adjacent faces to form in one a wiring chamber, and in the other a transverse channel. said channelled button being formed to afford a way intersecting said channel, in combination with a bolt slidable in said transverse channel and having a latching nose normally located at said way, for the purpose specified.

7. An electric fitting having two parts, means to lock said parts together, said means including a latch bolt formed from sheet metal shaped to afl'ord intermediate its ends a latch nose and a bay into which said nose projects.

8. An electric fitting having two parts, means to lock said parts together, said means including a latch bolt formed from sheetmetal shaped to afford intermediate its ends a latch nose and a bay into which said nose projects, and a marginal stop shoulder to one side of said bay.

9. An electric fitting having two parts, means to lock said parts together, said means including a latch bolt formed from sheet metal shaped to afford intermediate its ends a latch nose and a bay into which said nose projects, and a marginal stop shoulder to one side of said bay, and a spring guide lug at the other side of the bay.

10. An electric fitting having two parts, means to lock said parts together, said means including a latch bolt formed from sheetmetal shaped to afford intermediate its ends a latch nose and a bay into which said nose projects, one end of said bolt being offset to afford a thumb piece, and the other end of said bolt being shaped to afford an abutment for a coil spring.

11. A plug member comprising lamp receptacle contacts at one end and plug jacks at the opposite end, together with a projecting late plate intermediate the plug jacks and insulated therefrom.

12. A plug member comprising lamp receptacle contacts at one end and plug jacks at the other end, said plug being pierced in register with one of the lamp receptacle contacts, together with a latch plate anchored in said piercing and projecting between the plug jacks, and means insulating the inner end of the latch plate from the adjacent lamp receptacle contacts.

13. A pendant receptacle having an insulating body with peripheral shoulder, a supporting member comprising an annulus bearing against said shoulder, and a latch bolt projecting laterally from said receptacle at a point spaced from said shoulder.

14. An electrical connecting device comprising detachable insulating bodies, plug and socket contacts on said bodies adapted to be engaged and disengaged by rectilinear movement of said bodies, a latch member on one of said insulating bodies projecting axially therefrom, a radially slidable spring pressed latch bar on the other insulating body cooperating with said latch member to automatically lock said insulating bodies together.

15. An electrical connecting device comprising detachable insulating bodies, plug and socket contacts on said bodies adapted to be engaged and disengaged by rectilinear movement of said bodies, a latch member'on one of said insulating bodies projecting axially therefrom, a passageway in the other of said insulating bodies for reception of said latch member, a radially slidable spring pressed latch bar on said other insulating body cooperating with said latch member to automatically lock said insulating bodies together.

16. An electrical connecting device comprising detachable insulating bodies, plug and socket contacts on said bodies adapted to be engaged and disengaged by rectilinear movement of said bodies, a latch member on one of said insulating bodies projecting axially therefrom, said latch member having an aperture in one end, a slidable spring pressed latch bar slidable transversely of the axis of said insulating bodies, and having a tongue adapted to enter said aperture to automatically lock said insulating bodies together.

17. An electrical connecting device comprising detachable insulating bodies, plug and socket contacts on said bodies adapted to be engaged and disengaged by rectilinear movement of said bodies, a latch member on one of said insulating bodies projecting axially therefrom, a spring stressed latch bar slidable transversely of the axis of said insulating bodies, a cam surface on said bar engageable with said latch member to move Said member transversely and cause automatic locking of said bodies together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARVID H. NERO. 

